The English Suites were apparently written in the early 1720s, and
were copied out in 1725; the first suite is simpler in form, and
probably dates from c.1718. The title "English" continues to be
mysterious; according to older sources it was derived from an English
commission for these works, but none of this has been verified.

These suites form a direct continuation of the French style begun by
Bach in the earlier French Suites. In this case, the suites are longer
(the final five including massive da capo preludes) and the connection
with functional dance music is more ephemeral. These suites therefore
represent a critical stage in Bach's development of his mature
Partitas. Of course, they are also pleasant to hear, if not full
masterpieces.

There has also been some recent discussion that these suites are
older than the French Suites.